dharmatirthakarebhyostu syadvadibhyo namonamah
Rsabhadi-Mahavirantebhyah svatmopalabdhaye

Dear friends
Jaya Jinendra

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JAINA DHARMA KA ITIHASA (Hindi)
By Asim Kumar Rai
Hindi tr. Sudhindra Gemavat
2000 220 x 142 mm 176 pp
Hardback Rs.150

This is a Hindi translation of Rai's "A History of the Jainas".

In the 6th century BCE, Jainism was an old faith, mature and
fully developed. Even then, its history was far enough in the
past to be beyond the purview of normal measurements of
time.

The principles of Jainism were firmly established well before
then, and remain unchanged even today. Jainism is, hence, the
oldest living religion of India. Today, the defining point of Indian
faiths, is their twin beliefs of the eternal soul and mutable body.
This is an original belief of the Jaina doctrine, and a sign of the
impact of Jainism on other Indian religions.

Other central beliefs of Jainism, which have been adopted by
Hinduism are:
Deep-rooted faith in Ahimsa
belief in reincarnation
belief in the necessity of asceticism to achieve liberation

The roots of Jainism are traceable to the earliest attempts of man
to understand his place in the universe. The ancient remains of the
Indus Valley Civilisation carry many proofs of the existence of the
followers of the Jaina faith at that point in time.

However, the history of Jainas stops at Mahavira. This is because
there were no more ford makers after Tirthankara Mahavira. He
was the penultimate. Hence, there is no more history of Jainism.
This is a history of the Jaina people.

It has been presented in a non-sectarian fashion. The text is very
well organised and impeccably researched.
The scheme of chapters is as follows:
1. Utpatti
2. Pauranika Itihasa
3. Parsva ki jivani
4. Varddhamana Mahavira ki jivani
5. Jaina Dharma ka prasara - prarambhika kala
6. Sangha bheda - vibhaktiyan
7. Digambara
8. Yapaniya
9. Svetambara
10. Upasamhara

Appendices
1. The sacred books of the Svetambaras
2. The sacred books of the Digambaras
3. Tirthankara
4. The sthaviravali given in the Kalpasutra
5. The sthaviravali given in the Nandisutra
6. Brhat Kharataragaccha Pattavali
7. Sarasvatigaccha (Digambara) Pattavali

The author reviews certain conclusions drawn by Hoernle and
Basham and exhibits a deep study of the works of the canonical
commentator Silanka. He also relates an interesting story about
the idols at Kankali Tila, Mathura - the oldest Jaina idols in the world.

He points out, that until the third recension at Valabhi, both sects
worshipped naked idols of the Tirthankaras. The earliest 'clothed'
idol was sculpted in 5th CE, right after the second Valabhi recension.
This idol is found at Akota in Gujarat.

The book is insightful, and the author is well versed in the historical
literature, the pattavalis, of all three, Digambara, Yapaniya and
Svetambara sects. The author is also familiar with Nathuram Premi's
"Jaina Sahitya aur Itihasa" and quotes his views.

Yours in Ahinsa,
Manish Modi

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